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All About Adam 



A Comedy in Two Acts 



By 
ALICE C. THOMPSON 

Author of "-"-Oysters;' "-"-The Truth About Jane^* 
"•"-Romantic Mary" "-"-Just Like Percy^' etc. 



BOSTON 

WALTER H. BAKER & CO. 

1911 



All About Adam 



CHARACTERS 

Professor Adam Moon. 

Mrs. Moon, his mother. 

Miss Harriet Harding '\ \ ^ ^^/yX 

Miss Agatha Harding y st'sUrs. ^^ \0^ 

Miss Winnifred Harding ) • I 

Hester. 



-ft) 



63^ 



SYNOPSIS 



Act I. — Library at the Hardings*. 

Act II. — Sitting-room in Mrs. Moon's house. 



PROPERTIES 



Act I. — Sewing materials ; an old glove ; a vase ; flowers ; a 
cloth duster ; books ; a money-box containing silver coins and. 
a one cent piece ; a dime for Hester. 

Act II. — Knitting materials ; a plate of biscuits ; a white 
table-cloth ; knives, forks, three plates, cups and saucers ; the 
mission box ; glove and coins used in Act I. 




Copyright, 191 i, by Walter H. Baker & Co. 



©CI.O 23291 



All About Adam 



ACT I 

SCENE. — Library of the Misses Harding. At R. c. is a table 
and rocking-chair ; on the table a flower vase. At L. c. , a 
sofa and armchair. At r., against the wall, is a bookcase 
with books ; on top of the bookcase a money-box. Entrances 
at c. and down L. and R. To the left of door c, a window. 

{The curtain rises to discover Miss Harriet and Miss 
Agatha Harding seated l. c. andv.. c, Agatha on sofa, 
each with a piece of sewing. Agatha is mending an old 
glove. Neither of the sisters is very young.) 

Har. Agatha, I am convinced that the professor comes 
here for a reason. 

Agatha {dropping her sewing). I have thought so myself 
for some time. But why do you call him the professor ? I can 
never get accustomed to that title. I always think of him as 
Adam. 

Har. Professor sounds dignified and suits him. — Is it 
Winnifred, do you think ? 

Agatha. Winnifred ! Oh, she's so much younger than 
he is. 

Har. That doesn't matter. And after all, though he may 
seem old to her, he is really only a little over forty. 

Agatha. I know how forty seemed to me when I was Win- 
nie's age. She doesn't understand him. He needs a sensible 
wife — a woman of er — more mature years. We must not 
imagine things, Harriet. 

Har. No, I want to get at the truth. The other day he 
gave Winnie the rose he wore in his buttonhole. 

Agatha. An act of politeness merely. She admired it. 

Har. She kept it in water on her dressing-table. 

Agatha. Don't count on trifles, Harriet. 

Har. What is that you are mending, Agatha ? 

3 



4 ALL ABOUT ADAM 

Agatha. A glove. {Hides it.) 

Har. That is Adam's old glove. He left it here last week. 
I should think his mother would do his mending. 

Agatha {bringing it out again). I thought I might as well 
do it. It was torn. Of course I won't stand in Winnie's ^ay 
if there is anything between them. * Though she is only our 
stepsister, my affection for her is just the same as for you. 

Har. There is no question of standing in her way, my dear 
Agatha. And I do not doubt your feeling for her. I think 
sometimes you have spoiled her, I have noticed lately a 
tendency on her part to be irreverent and cynical. She seems 
to question our old standards. She is not as pliable as she used 
to be. 

Agatha. Yes, and she is inclined to interfere between us 
and Hester. 

Har. Then I won't allow it. Hester was our find. (Hester 
heard singing off l.) There, she's singing again. She's al- 
ways singing. 

Agatha. She does not seem to reahze that we prefer 
quietness. 

Har. I believe Winnifred encourages her in that boisterous 
cheerfulness. Ssh ! here's Winnie now ! 

£nter Miss Winnifred Harding, c. She is a pretty, attract- 
ive girl of about twenty-two or three. 

Win. What a glorious walk I've had ! Away down to the 
river. You ought to be out on a day like this, Harriet — and 
you, Agatha — not mooning indoors. 

Har. I don't know exactly what you mean when you say 
"mooning." You can see that we are busy. 

(Win. seats herself and removes her hat.) 

Agatha. Have you seen anything of Adam ? 

Win. Oh, no. 

Har. We were just speaking about him, Winnifred. He 
is a very fine man. 

Win. He is the most absent-minded man I've ever met. 

Agatha. But you have not known many men, have you ? 

Win. That is true. 

Har. Have you ever wondered, Winnie, why he comes 
here so often ? 

Win. We happen to possess some very good reference books 



ALL ABOUT ADAM 5 

left by poor papa. Isn't that sufficient reason for a great 
student ? 

Har. But he is also a human being, my dear. 

Win. Well 

(Hester heard singing outside.) 

Har. Kindly close that door, Winnie. Hester's noise is 
very disturbing. 

(Win. rises and closes door.) 

Win. She is scrubbing out that passage as if her life de- 
pended on it. She works very well for a young, inexperienced 
girl, does she not ? 

Har. She will improve with training. 

Agatha. I think we were fortunate to get her. Our visit 
to the farm had good results. 

Har. That remains to be seen. 

Agatha. Did you find out nothing more about her ? 

Har. No. Mrs. Green said her parents died when she was 
an infant. She has lived with the Greens ever since. 

Win. Poor child. She could not have been very happy on 
the farm, for you say she was glad to come with you. 

Agatha. She was naturally pleased at the thought of earn- 
ing money for the first time. On the farm she had just the 
bare necessities of life ; but she always speaks of it as home. 

Win. And she is grateful. Do you know, she told me that 
she intends saving all her money to buy Mrs. Green a silk 
dress. 

Har. I don't approve of that at all. She might better give 
her money to the heathen who need it. And that reminds me. 
(^Rises and goes over to bookcase.) Here is our mission box. 
It is nearly full. I think I shall return it on Sunday next. 

Agatha. Do you think it safe to leave it there, Harriet? 
You know the coins may be easily taken out. One has only to 
remove the little cork in the bottom. 

Har. True. And we know very little about Hester. 

Win. Nonsense ! Let us at least believe her honest till we 
have some reason to doubt her. 

Enter Hester, l., carrying a large bunch of autumn flowers. 
She is a girl between fourteen and fifteen years of age. 
Wears a simple gingham dress and a straw hat. She 
comes to the table. 



6 ALL ABOUT ADAM 

Har. Hester, where did you get those flowers ? {Rises.) 
Hester. I picked them on the other side of the porch. 
Agatha. From Mrs. Linden's yard ! 

Har. How could you do such a thing ? They are not our 
flowers. 

Hester {standing still). Not yours ? 

Har. Certainly not. 

Hester. But they grow quite near the house. 

(Puts flowers on table and removes hat, throwing it on sofa.) 

Win. Naturally, a country girl would not understand, as 
there is no fence dividing the yards. 

Hester, I'm sure she wouldn't mind; do you think so? 
There are so many growing there. And I do so love flowers, 
don't you? I'll put them in water, and then I'll run over and 
tell her that I took them. 

Har. You will do nothing of the kind. I feel most an- 
noyed. Mrs. Linden prides herself on her flowers. She will 
say we steal. 

Win. Harriet ! 

Hester. Oh, no, she couldn't say that. Why, at home 

Har. Never mind telling me what you did at home. This 
is not the country. Take the flowers out. I will see Mrs. 
Linden myself. And never do such a thing again. (Hester 
crosses over to l., with flowers.) When you come back bring 
a duster. This room is in a shocking state. \^Exit Hester. 

Win. After all, it was a little thing to do. 

Har. The principle is all wrong. {Sits.) 

Win. I will explain to Mrs. Linden. 

Har. I am so scrupulously honest myself that I can't bear 
the least shadow of dishonesty or subterfuge. 

Win. Why, she was certainly very frank. 

Agatha. I will ask Adam Moon about it. He has such 
good judgment. 

Win. If you can get his mind off the stars long enough to 
listen to you. 

Agatha. Winnifred, you are disrespectful. 

Win. Indeed I am not. I mean it seriously. He is so 
completely wrapped up in his pursuits that he does not seem to 
heed the common things of earth. Sometimes when I have 
been talking to him, I have suddenly realized that he is not 
listening to me at all. And yet I have tried to understand him. 
I do admire hira. I feel — I 



ALL ABOUT ADAM 7 

Agatha (self-consciously). I think I understand him. 

Har. Ah, my dear Winnie, he sees more than you think. 

Agatha. Don't let us jump to wrong conclusions. I 
wonder if he will call this afternoon. I have a feeling that he 
may. 

(Agatha rises and goes to window. Win., seeing the glove 
on the floor y picks it upy looks at it and conceals it in her 
belt.) 

Har. I see I am going to have trouble in training Hester. 
Look where she has thrown her hat. She acts as if this were 
her own home. 

Win. But isn't it ? 

Reenter Hester, carrying a cloth duster. She goes over to the 
bookcase. 

Har. Dust everything very carefully, Hester. And don't 
miss the corners. 

Hester. What's this ? {Picks up money-box, and rattles 
it.) A little bank. Isn't that nice? Sammy Green had one 
just like this. He saved up all his pennies and bought an air 
rifle and then shot the pig in her left hind foot. It was awful. 

Har. We don't save for air rifles here. That money is for 
the poor naked heathen. 

Hester. Oh, where are they ? 

Har. Over in Africa, where it is very hot. 

Hester. Then they must be fine and cool. 

Har. (severely). They do not realize their condition. 

Hester. Is there a great deal of money in the box ? 

Har. No, not a great deal, for we are not wealthy. There 
is only what we have saved by denying ourselves. 

Agatha. I know every coin just as if they were children 
and had names. There's fifty cents I got for selling bottles to 
the ragman — a great pile of 'em. It has a nick in it. And a 
silver dollar we saved in butter in three weeks. 

Har. And a penny, Agatha — I remember a penny. 

Agatha. Yes, we put that in the night we didn't buy the 
paper. 

Har. On principle, Agatha. 

Agatha. Yes, on principle. It was full of that dreadful 
scandal and we just wouldn't buy it. I hope the editor heard 
about it. 



8 ALL ABOUT ADAM 

Hester. I would like to put something in, too. May I ? 

Agatha. Have you any money, child ? 

Hester. Yes, I have a dime. It's all my own. ^ 

Har. Did Mrs. Green give it to you ? 

Hester. No, a gentleman on the train. 

Har. But, Hester, you mustn't take money from strangers. 
Don't you know that an honest girl earns her money by work- 
ing for it ? 

Hester {earnestly). Oh, I did earn it. I minded the baby 
for a whole hour. 

Har. The baby ! ^ 

Hester. And he looked after the four other children. And 
then I gave him the baby and played with the others till we 
reached the city. 

Agatha. Hm ! where was his wife ? 

Hester. She was dead. He was taking them all to their 
grandma's. I felt so sorry for him. {She unties a corner of 
her handkerchief and takes out coin.) See, here is my dime. 
I'll give it to the poor heathen who have so little. 

{Drops coin in bank.) 

Har. {to Agatha). I begin to feel suspicious. That's not 
natural. 

Win. Thank you, Hester. It's very good of you to sacri- 
fice money that would give you pleasure for the benefit of some 
fat, roly-poly heathen who is much happier v/ithout clothes. 

Har. Winnifred, you are shocking. You had better go to 
your room. 

Win. {smiling). I think I will. [Exity L. 

Agatha. And I shall go and change my dress. {Rises.) 
Why, Where's the glove — the glove I was mending? It's 
gone ! 

Har. {rising). If a gentleman calls, Hester, show him in 
here and come and tell me at once. I am expecting Prof. 
Adam Moon. 

Agatha. And let me know also. But I wonder where that 
glove is. {Exeunt Har. and Agatha, l., Agatha looking 
back at Hester with some distrust. Hester gives a little 
sigh and drops into chair. Reenter Agatha. Hester jumps 
up. Agatha, in a loud whisper.) Don't fail to let me know 
if the professor calls. 

Hester. Very well, ma'am. (Agatha disappears* Hester 



ALL ABOUT ADAM 9 

sits again.') Oh, my flowers ! And in the country we had so 
many that I sometimes passed them by without even looking at 
them. The poor sweet things ! I'll never do it again. 

{A knock R. Hester rises quickly and opens door. 
Enter Professor Adam Moon, carrying a large book. 
He is gray haired and wears spectacles y but has still a 
look of youth about his face and figure. His manner is 
simple f diffidetit and kindly.) 

Adam. Ssh ! not a word ! Don't let them know I'm here. 

Hester. Are you Professor Moon ? 

Adam. lam. {Alarmed.) Were they — do you think they 
are expecting me ? 

Hester. Oh, yes, sir. Miss Harriet said I was to tell her 
at once when you called, and Miss Agatha said not to fail to let 
her know. 

Adam. And what did Miss Winnifred say ? 

Hester. She said nothing. 

Adam. She said nothing, eh ? What's your name ? I sup- 
pose you have a name. {Smiles.) 

Hester. I'm called Hester. 

Adam. Well, Hester, oblige me by not mentioning this visit. 
I'll only stay a few minutes. I'm in a great hurry. I want to 
look something up. (^Goes to bookcase and kneels.) Ah, 

here it is. {Takes out book.) If I thought Winnifred 

But no, she doesn't want to see me. {Turns.) And where 
did you drop from ? I don't remember seeing you before. 

Hester {earnestly). Oh, no, sir. This is the first time 
you've ever seen me. I come from Erindale. It's away off in 
the country. (Adam rises.) 

Adam. And do you like it better here? 

Hester. Better ? Oh, no. Miss Winnifred is very good to 
me, but I miss my stars. 

Adam. What ! you miss 

Hester. My stars, shining up in the sky, you know. They 
look so tiny, but they're really very big. Did you know that ? 

Adam. So they are your stars, too, little girl ? 

Hester. I call them mine. Of course I know tliey don't 
really belong to me, but to God. All through ihe summer I 
slept close beside the window and I left the blinds open so I 
could see them shining down. And I loved them. There was 
«ne, bigger than the rest and brighter. I always looked for it 



10 ALL ABOUT ADAM 

and I missed it if it wasn't there. It seemed to look at me. It 
seemed to be my star. 

Adam. And can't you see your stars any longer? 

Hester. No, nothing but a brick wall. 

Adam. Would you like to know something more about your 
stars ? What it is that makes them shine, what force it is that 
keeps them there through all the years ? 

Hester. Oh, so much. I've often wondered and some- 
times I asked people out in Erindale. But no one could tell 
me. They didn't look at them. They said it was a waste of 
time. 

Adam. Yes, that's what people used to say to me. But 
some day I'll tell you all about them. Keep on looking up. 
Better be lighted by a star than a kerosene lamp. Why, I try 
to teach the students at the college. 

Hester. Do you ? I'd like to go to college. 

Adam. I'll tell you what. We'll have a lesson. 

Yi^'srsiw^ {joyously'). Now — to-day? 

Adam. Yes. Now I'll have to give you some facts before 
we get to the really interesting part. You must know that our 
sun is the centre of a vast system. Do you know what I mean 
by system ? 

Hester. Oh, yes. That's what Miss Harriet has. She 
says she prides herself on her system. 

Adam. Hm ! This isn't just the kind of system Miss Har- 
riet is so proud of. Let me see. How can I explain ? {He 
absently picks up the money-box.') What's this? {Rattles it.) 

Hester. That's for the heathen. 

Adam. For the heathen, eh ? {He empties the box in his 
hands.) The very thing ! We'll make use of the heathen's 
money. All these shining silver coins will be constellations 
and planets. 

Hester. Stars? 

Adam. Yes, stars. {Goes down on his knees.) This fifty 
cent piece is the earth. 

(Hester drops down beside him.^ 

Hester {eagerly). Has it a nick in it? Yes. Well, Miss 
Agatha got that by selHng bottles to the ragman. 

Adam. Good old ragman ! Here's a big silver dollar. 

Hester. That's saved from the butter money. She told 
me so. 



ALL ABOUT ADAM II 

Adam. And now it's going to shine as the sun. See, here 
they are. {Places coins.) The Sun, Mercury, Venus, the 
Earth and Moon — the penny will do for that — Mars, Jupiter, 
Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. 

Hester. Are those the names of my stars ? 

Adam. Yes. Do you think you can learn them by heart ? 

Hester. If you will write them down for me. 

Adam. I will. Mars, this big fellow here, and the first of 
the superior planets, performs his revolutions round the sun in 
six hundred and eighty-seven days at an average velocity of 
fifty-five thousands miles an hour. 

Hester (^brightly). Why, that's faster than a railroad train. 

Adam. Faster than a railroad train ! Yes, just a little. 

Hester. It's very interesting. 

Adam. Do you think you understand ? 

Hester. Oh, yes, but I want to know what makes them 
shine ''like a diamond in the sky." Yes, what is it makes 
them look so like diamonds ? 

Adam. I am going to try and tell you. I'm afraid I've 

gotten into a dry and dusty way of talking. I'll simpHfy 

(Har. is heard off l. calling Hester.) Who's that ? 

Hester {starting). Miss Harriet ! 

Adam. I must go. She mustn't find me here. I think I 
have a class and if she comes in I'll never get away. {He 
sweeps all the coins up in his hafid, puts thefn in his pocket 
and jumps up.) Don't let them know I called. Not a word, 
remember. 

Hester. I promise. [Exit Adam, r. 

(Hester rises^ gets her duster and goes to table as e7iter 
Har.) 

Har. Haven't you finished dusting? 

Hester. Not quite, ma'am. 

Har. You've been wasting your time. What have you 
been doing ? Come, answer me. Hm ! it's very plain you've 
been in mischief. Meddling with the books, I dare say. {Goes 
to bookcase.) Why, this isn't even dusted. I don't know 

what you (Lifts up mo?tey-box ; horrified.) It's empty ! 

(Hester starts.) The box is empty. Where is the money ? 
Speak, tell me what's become of the money ! (Har. runs to l., 
calling shrilly.) Agatha ! Agatha ! Winnifred ! Oh, I might 
have known better than to leave it there. Where is it ? Give 
it to me, at once. 



12 ALL ABOUT ADAM 

Enter Agatha. 

Agatha. What's the matter, Harriet ? Is the professor 

Har. The mission money has been stolen. 
Agatha. Stolen, the mission money ! 
Har. Every cent. Here's the box. You can see for 
yourself. It's quite empty. 

Agatha. Who — who has been here ? 
Har. No one but Hester. 

Enter Win. 

Agatha. Hester, where is the money ? 

Win. What money ? 

Agatha. The money for the mission. It's gone — stolen ! 

Win. Some one must have come in. 

Har. No one has been here but Hester. I left her in this 
room. 

Agatha. Hester, where is the money ? 

Hester. 1 haven't got the money. (^Opens her hands.) 

Har. What did you do with it ? 

Hester. Nothing. 

Har. You deny that you emptied the mission box. But 
no one else has been here. She lies to me. First she steals, 
then she lies about it. 

Win. Oh, I can't beheve it. Hester, did you take the 
money ? 

Hester. No, Miss Winnifred. 

Win. You hear what she says. 

Har. You are very simple, Winnifred. She knows that no 
one else was in the room. She shall restore that money and 
go. I cannot harbor a thief. 

Agatha. Hush, Harriet, let me speak to her ! I will ap- 
peal to her conscience, to her better nature. (^Goes to Hes- 
ter.) Hester, we want to save you, to save you from yourself. 
Only confess that you took the money and we will try and for- 
give you. 

Hester {firmly). I did not take the money. 

Agatha (with an affectation of great feeling). Oh, Hester, 
think of the little heathen children — think of them standing 
over there, holding out their helpless hands and crying so piti- 
fully, <'Come over and help us." Picture them, poor be- 
nighted beings, ignorant, naked, and then think of what you 
are depriving them. 



ALL ABOUT ADAM 1 3 

Har. {in a hard voice). Four dollars and eighty-six 
cents. 

{All look at Hester, who remains unmoved by this ha- 
rangue.') 

Agatha. I'm afraid she is wholly bad. 

Win. No, I can't believe it. — A girl who loves stars and 
flowers and babies — she can't be altogether bad. (Hester 
bursts into tears.) Don't cry, Hester. Hush ! I'll tell you 
what I'll do, Harriet. I have five dollars in change; I will 
replace the exact amount that was in the mission box, and we 
will say no more about it for the present. Just now we are all 
excited. I feel sure it will turn up. I will go and get my 
money. \_Exit, 

Har. She may replace the money, but I am determined to 
find the thief. 

Agatha. You are quite right, Harriet. 

Har. I have no desire to be unjust, but if Hester cannot 
at once explain satisfactorily where the money is, she must go. 

Agatha. Speak, Hester. We want to forgive you. 

(Hester //Vy^i- up her hat and goes slowly out r.) 

Har. a clear case of guilt. 
Agatha. Oh, Harriet, what will Winnie say ? 
Har. I cannot help what Winnie will say. The girl's de- 
parture is nothing more or less than confession. 

Agatha {going to window). But I wonder where she will 

go- 

Har. And where has she put the money ? She must have 

hidden it somewhere. 

{Begins to search.) 

Agatha. Oh, how unfortunate we were to get such a wicked 
girl in the house. Four dollars and eighty-six cents. Think 
of it. And I missed a glove too. That should have been a 
warning. 

Enter Win. 

Win. Here is the money. {Comes down c.) Where is 
Hester ? 

Har. She has gone. 



14 ALL ABOUT ADAM 

Win. Gone, where? 

Har. I don't know; and I can't say that I am going to 
disturb myself about it. She went rather than confess openly 
to having taken the money. And where it is, I don't know. 

Win. And you let her go — a young girl all alone in this 
city. 

Har. I will not keep a thief in the house. 

Win. I don't believe she took the money. How could you 
turn her out ? She will wander the streets. 

Har. I can't consider that I owe her anything. You see 
how she has repaid our kindness. 

Agatha. With base ingratitude. 

Win. Harriet, you would not willingly see me alone and 
unprotected in a strange city, and I am much older than Hes- 
ter and have always lived in a town. Think of that poor 
child, hurt, lost, bewildered. I must go at once and find her. 

Har. Nonsense. I will not let you go. 

Win. But you will not keep me. No, nothing will keep 
me until I find her. If I don't come home you will know I 
am searching. (^Goes to r.) Justice is a very noble thing, no 
doubt, but if we had nothing but justice a good many of us 
would fall by the way. [Exit, 



CURTAIN 



ACT II 

SCENE. — Sitting-room at Mrs. Moon's. The same day, late 
ift the afternoon. A comfortable, simply-furnished room. 
At R. c, an armchair ; at L.., a bookcase against wall. At 
■ L. c, a round table, three small chairs and an easy-chair. 
On a shelf, some plates, cups and saucers and a white cloth. 
An entrance c, one down l., and one leading into a passage 
or hall, down r. A window left of c. 

{The curtain rises on Mrs. M., a sweet-faced old lady. She 
sits at L. c. knitting.^ 

Enter Adam, r. 

Adam. Well, mother, there you are, still, just as I left you, 
knitting. {Comes to her and kisses her.) Always knitting. 

Mrs. M. I'll put it away, now you're home. But as a 
matter of fact, I only came in ten minutes ago. 

Adam. I'm glad to hear you have been out. 

Mrs. M. And I'm glad I got back first. I thought you 
might catch me and I wanted to give you a surprise. Adam, 
guess what I brought home to-day. 

Adam. Guess what you brought home, mother? Oh, the 
usual thing, I suppose. A lame dog, a lost kitten, a bird with 
a broken wing. 

Mrs. M. I might call her all of those without exaggera- 
tion, — a poor motherless, homeless girl. 

Adam. A girl ! Where did you pick her up ? 

Mrs. M. On the street. Oh, she's a country girl, not a 
town waif, this one. Let me tell you. I had about decided 
that I would not go out, when it suddenly occurred to me that 
I might run over to the market and get you some of that sausage 
you're so fond of. 

Adam. I don't know whether I should bless that inspiration 
or not. 

Mrs. M. I was on my way home when I heard some one 
call me, and turning, I saw a young girl out of breath with 
running. She came up and gave me my pocketbook which I 
had not even missed. '' Well, well," I said, " you are an hon- 
est girl; " and I offered her a reward, which she refused with 

15 



1 6 ALL ABOUT ADAM 

these rather remarkable words, '' Oh, no, ma'am, I shouldn't 
be paid for being honest." 

Adam. Hm ! Was the reward big enough to tempt her ? 

Mrs. M. Adam, please don't be cynical. I asked her where 
her home was, and she said she had none. *' Well," said I, 
'< where will you sleep to-night ? " With that she pointed to the 
park: ''Maybe I'll sleep in that field." Then I knew she 
was a country girl, and so I brought her home. 

Adam. And what are you going to do with her ? 

Mrs. M. I don't know yet. Perhaps keep her; I like her. 
I feel confidence in her already. 

Adam. But you always do have confidence in them. 

Mrs. M. And I'm not always mistaken. 

(Rises and lights lamp.) 

Adam. Well, mother, your good heart does you credit. 

Mrs. M. That's more than I can say for your memory, 
Adam. Look at your shirt ; just look at it. 

Adam (examining his cuffs). What's the matter with it ? 

Mrs. M. Matter ! Two days ago I told you to change it 
and left you a clean one. 

Adam. Did you ? I must have forgotten. 

Mrs. M. Did you forget you had a lecture this afternoon ? 

Adam. Oh, no, I remembered that all right. I met two of 
the students and they reminded me. 

Mrs. M. Been over to the Hardings' ? 

Adam. I think I did go. 

Mrs. M. Whom did you see. Miss Harriet or Miss Agatha ? 

Adam. Neither of them. 

Mrs. M. Winnie, then? 

Adam. No, I didn't see her. Perhaps it was yesterday. 
No, it wasn't, because I recollect, now, I got a book there. I 
saw no one but the maid. 

Mrs. M. There's a fine girl — Winnifred Harding. She 
would make a lovely wife for some man. 

Adam. Yes, I believe she would. 

Mrs. M. You admire her, don't you ? 

Adam. Very much. More than that, I feel I have come 
to — love her. 

Mrs. M. Well, why don't you tell her ? 

Adam. Tell her ? 

Mrs. M. Yes ; ask heir to marry you. That is, if you ever 



ALL ABOUT ADAM 1 7 

get the chance with those two older sisters of hers continually 
on hand. 

Adam. I never thought of it. I don't know if I'd dare. 
Do you think Winnifred could care for me ? She's so bright 
and young. 

Mrs. M. Certainly. Why shouldn't she care? You could 
make any woman care for you. 

Adam. Oh, mother, who else but you would make such a 
daring statement ? 

Mrs. M. Besides, you need a wife. I won't always be 
here to look after you. And you are constantly forgetting 
things. I never saw such a memory, or such a lack of it in all 
my days. 

Adam. Winnie is a sweet, intelligent girl. 

Mrs. M. a girl I could welcome, on condition that she 
didn't have her stepsisters over too often. 

Adam. They mean well. 

Mrs. M. Very hkely, but Winnie does well. There's a 
difference. I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll have her over 
to supper some day, and I'll leave you two alone for half an 
hour. 

Adam. Oh, mother ! 

Mrs. M. Well, isn't that long enough? Or would you 
require an hour ? 

Adam. What a contriving little lady you are ! 

Mrs. M. Oh, I don't mind giving you a httle help, but I 
tell you there's a fate about these things. Now, Adam, go 
right up-stairs and change your shirt. Supper will be ready 
soon and I'm going to have it in here. We're housecleaning, 
and the dining-room is all upset. 

(Adam goes to l. ) 

Adam. What's this red string on my finger for ? 

Mrs. M. How do I know? It may have been there for 
days. 

Adam. Yes, I believe I noticed it on Tuesday. 

Mrs. M. And this is Thursday. Good gracious ! Per- 
haps it was to remind you to take your umbrella, or to wear 
your rubbers, or to put out your light when you go to bed — or 
any one of a thousand things. How can I tell ? 

Adam. No, I remember now, it had something to do with 
a concert. 



1 8 ALL ABOUT ADAM 

Mrs. M. To be sure. You were to get the tickets for the 
Symphony concert on Wednesday. That was last night. 

Adam. Yes, last night. 

Mrs. M. And I forgot all about it, too. 

Adam. That's too bad, too bad. {^Exif, l. 

Mrs. M. {looking ath.). Bless the boy ! What a head he 
has. So chock full of great things there is no room for the 
small. 

Enter Hester, c. 

Hester. Please, ma'am, will you let me do something? 
Then I'd feel as if I really belonged here. {^Comes down c.) 

Mrs. M. Can you set a table ? 

Hester. Oh, yes. 

Mrs. M. You have worked for some one, I suppose ? What 
made you leave ? — You would rather not tell me. You didn't 
do anything wrong, did you ? 

Hester. No, I didn't do anything wrong. 

Mrs. M. Very well, I am satisfied. How do you like your 
room ? Is it comfortable ? 

Hester. Oh, it's just lovely. There's a great big chestnut 
tree outside my window with real birds in it, like at Erindale — 
the country, I mean. 

Mrs. M. So you really love trees and birds ? 

Hester. Oh, yes, don't you? 

Mrs. M. I love the city, I guess, because I can meet peo- 
ple. They are my favorite study, Hester. People seem to me 
like books. I want to read them, especially if they have neat, 
attractive covers. That's human nature, I suppose. When I 
come across a stranger I think that now, perhaps, I've found 
the great book I'm looking for, that when I open it I'll light 
on something beautiful and true. 

Hester. And do you often find it, the great book ? 

Mrs. M. Not often, sometimes. I must confess to having 
been deceived by the outside. Then I say to myself, "It 
serves me right for judging by the cover only." Do you un- 
derstand me? 

Hester. Yes, ma'am, I think I do. Oh, I wonder what 
kind of book I am ? 

Mrs. M. I don't think I shall be disappointed in you. 

Hester (sadly). I must have a very plain cover. 

Mrs. M. Nonsense; I didn't mean that. Now I must go 
and look after my son and see that he puts the right clothes on. 



ALL ABOUT ADAM I9 

Hester. Oh, you have a little boy ! 

Mrs. M. Not exactly. It's a long time since he was a lit- 
tle boy, but I have to look after him just the same. All men 
are big boys, Hester, nothing more. But Adam's worse, for 
he's a great student and consequently has no memory whatever 
for ordinary things. So, Hester, if you sometimes see things 
all in their wrong places, a cup or plate upside down and the 
house generally topsyturvy, don't be surprised. Those are 
only my jogs to his memory. He's a star gazer. 

Hester. A star gazer ? 

Mrs. M. Yes, and there are no people more incapable of 
looking after themselves. (^Goes to door c.) I think I'll make 
some hot biscuits for supper. You see I'm a cook-book. 

Hester. Hot biscuits ! Oh, that sounds just like a real 
home. [Exit Mrs. M., c. 

Enter PiDhM, 1..^ carrying a book. He whistles as he comes C, 

Adam {stopping suddenly). It seems to me I have seen you 
before. 

Hester. Oh, yes, sir. To-day at Miss Harding's. 

Adam. Hm ! is that so ? I was talking to you in the 
library, wasn't I? I think you said you were interested in 
astronomy. 

Hester. Oh, no, sir, I said I loved the stars. 

Adam. Stars? Oh, that's much better. So it was. And 
I remember we were interrupted. 

Hester (eagerly). Yes, sir, just as you were telling me the 
names of my stars. 

Adam. Perhaps we'll find another opportunity. By the 
way, what are you doing here ? 

Hester. I don't know. A kind old lady brought me 
here. 

Adam. My mother. So you are the girl she picked up — 
the little country girl who would have slept in the park ? 

Hester. It looked so beautiful and green, something like 
Erindale. (A kftock at R.) 

Adam. I'll go. 

(Exit Hester, l. ADAM^^^^i- to r., and opens door.) 

Enter Win., without a hat. 

Win. (breathless). Adam, may I come in for a few 
minutes ? 

Adam. Oh, do come in. Won't you stay? Please stay to 



20 



ALL ABOUT ADAM 



supper, I mean. My mother expects you, at least she expects 
you some day. 

Win. Thank you. I'm afraid I can't stay to-day. What 
must you think of me, rushing over unceremoniously like this ? 

Adam. Oh, I'm delighted. Won't you sit down? 

Win. (sttiing). I came over here because I'm in trouble. 
I thought your mother — or you, might be able to help me. 

Adam {sitting beside her). I'll do my best, if you'll tell me. 

Win. I can't be very explicit. You see, it's like this. If 
you were .championing the cause of a person who had appar- 
ently done wrong and there was no way out, and you had 
vowed not to return home until things were righted, what 
would you do ? 

Adam. I think I'd keep my vow. 

Win. Even if it made things rather uncomfortable? 

Adam. The main thing is to be true to oneself, isn't it? 

Win. Yes, but I don't know what to do. 

Adam. I know you can be depended upon to do the right 
thing always. 

Win. You must have a high opinion of me, Adam ? 

Adam. I have known you for a long time, Winnie, almost 
since you were a little girl. And we've always been good 
friends. 

Win. Yes, the best of friends. 

Adam. Sometimes I'm afraid I've lived in the clouds too 
much. I must seem a very humdrum fellow to you. 

Win. Oh, no, no. 

Adam. Do you think you could — ever learn to love me, 
Winnie? I want to tell you that I've loved you for years and 
only found it out just now. 

Win. You love me? 

Adam. More than all the world. Do you see how a man — 
an absent-minded beggar Hke me — could go on for a long time 
like one asleep and suddenly awaken? Well, that's what hap- 
pened to me. 

Win. Yes, I see, I do understand. — Look^ I have something 
of yours. You left it at our house. ( Gives him glove. ) 

Adam. It's an old one; it was torn, I think. And you 
have mended it for me? 

Win. No, I didn't. Agatha must have done that. 

Adam. It was very kind of Agatha. 

Win. Give it to me. I'm going to rip those stitches out 
and mend it myself. 



ALL ABOUT ADAM 21 

Adam. Why should you give yourself so much trouble? 
Win. It's not trouble, it's pleasure. Sometimes a girl will 

suddenly waken up too, and realize 

Adam. Winnie, you care for me. You will marry me ? 
Win. Yes, Adam. 

(JECe takes her hand and kisses it slowly.) 

Enter Mrs. M. with a plate of biscuits. 

Mrs. M. {holding up plate). Light, fluffy, and sweet as a 
nut if I do say it myself. (Adam and Win. separate.) Why, 
Winnie, my dear, when did you come ? 

Adam {^jumping up). She will, mother. She did. It's all 
right. I took your advice. It's all right, and she'll stay to 
supper. 

Win. Adam ! 

Mrs. M. My dear, dear girl. Wait a minute. I must kiss 
you. Take this, Adam ; hold it very carefully. ( Gives him 
plate and goes to Win. with hands out. Adam stands stiffly ^ 
holding the plate with great caution.) Welcome ! Congratu- 
lations ! {Kisses her.) Oh, I wish you the best of everything. 
I don't know when I was so pleased. 

Adam. One would think this was a wedding. 

Mrs. M. Oh, but I see one in the near future. Now my 
biscuits, Adam. You'll stay, Winnie. 

(Puts biscuits on table.) 

Win. Oh, thank you. I — I am forgetting my errand. 
{Enter Hester carrying some plates.) Hester ! 

Hester {falteringly). Oh, Miss Winnie. 

Win. How did you come here, Hester ? 

Mrs. M. You know her, Winnie ? 

Win. {going to Hester). I ran after you, but I couldn't 
find you. I wanted to bring you back. Where did you find 
her, Mrs. Moon ? 

Mrs. M. On the street. But how do you come to know 
her? I thought there was a mystery. 

Adam. No mystery at all. Hester was at Miss Harding's. 
I saw her myself. It's very simple. 

(Hester goes to table and arranges plates, etc.) 

Mrs. M. Then why didn't you tell me, Adam? Oh, what 



22 ALL ABOUT ADAM 

a boy you are ! Come and have something to eat. We will 
talk about this afterward. Winnie, come. (All go to table 
and sit.) Now this is to be a sort of celebration. 

Adam. Well, what a way to set a table ! Here's my plate 
upside down. 

Mrs. M. Dear me I 

Adam. And a regular wigwam made with my knife and 
fork. Now who has been building around here ? (Suddenly.) 
Mother, what is this to remind me of? 

Mrs, M. I didn't set the table, my dear boy. (Looks at 
Hester.) It's nothing. 

Adam. Well, I'm not convinced. When I see things all 
askew, I'm positive there's something I've forgotten, and some 
kind soul is trying to jog my memory. Now what have I for- 
gotten this time ? 

Mrs. M. Ah, my dear Winnie, you have your work cut out 
for you. It's just awful to think that a first rate fellow like 
Adam should have such a third rate memory. 

Win. But I have heard memory can be cultivated. 

Hester (coming to table). Yes, I have heard that too. 

Adam. I shouldn't be at all surprised if I've forgotten the 
most important thing I've had to remember in a good many 
months. 

Hester (eagerly and yet shyly). Try and think. 

(^All look at her in astonishment. There is a quick^ loud 
knock at R. Adam rises and goes to door. Eftter Har. 
and Agatha, the former very stern, the latter much 
agitated.) 

Har. Is Winnifred here ? (Mrs. M. rises ; they come to c.) 
Ah ! I thought I should find you. (Astonished.) And 
Hester ! 

Agatha. Hester ! 

Har. Mrs. Moon, do you know anything about this young 
girl? 

Mrs. M. Practically nothing. 

Har. You do not know, then, that you are harboring a 
thief. 

Mrs. M. That's a very hard word, Harriet. 

Har. May I ask if Winnifred brought her here ? 

Mrs. M. Certainly not. I brought her here myself. She 
found my pocketbook and restored it to me. 

Har. After she had robbed me. 



ALL ABOUT ADAM 



23 



Mrs. M. She robbed you ! 

Har. Where is that money, Hester ? 

Mrs. M. What money ? She told me she hadn't a cent. 

Har. She knows very well. She emptied the mission box 
— robbed the poor heathen. Agatha has the box ; here it is. 

Agatha. I don't know how she had the heart. 

Adam. A mission box ? 

Har. It stood on top of the bookcase in our library. You 
must have seen it many a time. Indeed, Adam, I know you 
have contributed. It contained four dollars and eighty-six 
cents. .^ 

Adam. A mission box on the bookcase. I remember. 

Har. I left Hester alone in that room while I went up- 
stairs. No one else came in. 

Adam. Now I begin to see. I understand. {Puts hands in 
pockets.^ Good Lord ! If this isn't the very I remem- 
ber it all now. Jupiter, what a fool I've been ! 

Mrs. M. Adam, what do you mean ? 

Adam. Don't be too sure that no one else came in the 
room. The child didn't touch your money. Here it is, every 
cent {Empties pockets,) There, count it and put it back. 

(Agatha takes itioney.') 

Win. I don't understand, but I believed in Hester. 

Adam. It was a stupid blunder on my part. I called for a 
book and came across her in the library. She said she loved 
the stars, and I was naming them for her. I picked up the box 
and used the coins, one by one. Then in my usual absent- 
minded manner I put them all in my pockets, under the im- 
pression, I suppose, that I was a millionaire, and walked coolly 
home. And she has had to bear the blame and be called a 
thief. A girl who loves the stars. I don't know what ought to 
be done to me. 

Har. Why, this is incredible ! 

Adam. It is the truth. There's the money, you will find 
every cent. Hm ! they were shooting stars all right ! 

Agatha. Yes, here's the dollar we saved from the butter 
and the fifty cents the ragman gave us. 

Har. Why didn't you tell me, Hester? 

Adam. My fault again. I told her not to mention my call- 
ing. I was in a hurry ; just wanted to look something up. 

Har. But I had given her orders. 



FEB 8 1911 

24 ALL ABOUT ADAM 

Hester. I promised. 

Adam. I'm sorry. I wouldn't have made so much trouble 
for the world. Oh, my memory, my memory, it's the very 
dickens ! 

Win. Hester's silence, under the circumstances, was heroic. 

Adam. Hester is a brick. I must say I feel ashamed of 
myself. 

Agatha. Indeed, and so do I. 

Har. Well, I am more astonished than I have ever been in 
my life. I apologize to you, Hester. I am sorry I spoke so 
strongly. Now that we have the money, we may as jft^ell go 
home. Come, Hester. *^ 

Win. Wait a minute. Hester must say if she wishes to re- 
turn or not. 

Mrs. M. She can always have a home with me. 

Hester. Then I'll stay with you. I am happy here. 

Har. Very well. I suppose we will manage as we did be- 
fore she came. Are you coming, Winnifred ? 

Win. In a little while, Harriet. 

Mrs. M. I want to tell you, Harriet, that we are going to 
steal Winnie from you for keeps. 

Agatha. What ? 

Har. What do you mean ? 

Adam. Winnie has promised to become my wife. 

Har. It is just as I expected. I wish you both happiness. 

Agatha {going to Win.). Darling, I am so glad it was one 
of us. 

Har. Good-night. Don't be late, Winnie. 

Adam. I will bring her home in good time. 

Agatha. Good-night. 

(Exeunt Agatha and Har. Hester goes to window and 
parts the curtains?) 

Hester. It is' quite dark already. And see, there is my 
star shining over the chestnut tree just as it did in the orchard 
at home. 



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